Dive Site: Avalon

About Avalon

Avalon refers to the liveaboard operations that provide exclusive access to Cuba's Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) marine park. This vast archipelago, named by Christopher Columbus, stretches for 150 km parallel to the Cuban mainland, encompassing approximately 2,170 km² of pristine marine environment. Since its establishment as a marine reserve in 1996 and later a national park in 2010, the area has been meticulously protected, prohibiting commercial fishing and limiting human impact to preserve its exceptional biodiversity. Diving here reveals a world of healthy reefs, characterized by vertical walls adorned with a rich tapestry of corals and sponges. Depths typically range from 16 meters, where a mini-wall begins, extending down to 27 meters before sloping gently to 38-42 meters. These underwater landscapes provide habitats for an astonishing array of marine life, including numerous shark species and unusually large, fearless groupers. The marine park's robust health is evident in its thriving populations of apex predators and large reef fish. Divers consistently encounter Caribbean reef sharks and silky sharks, often during nearly every dive. The presence of immense goliath groupers, many weighing between 36-54 kg, which exhibit a remarkable lack of fear towards divers, underscores the effectiveness of the protection measures. This environment offers a unique glimpse into what Caribbean reefs looked like before widespread human impact. Access to Jardines de la Reina is strictly controlled, primarily through liveaboard operations like Avalon. This regulated tourism ensures that dive sites remain uncrowded, with often only one boat present at a site at any given time. The experience combines pristine natural beauty with significant encounters with large marine species, making it a premier destination for conservation-minded divers.

Dive site facts: Avalon

Depth

4–42 m

Current

Mild to moderate

Visibility

25–30 m

Water temperature

28–29°C

Entry

Tender

Level

Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water recommended

Dive type

Wall, reef, pelagic encounters

Night dive

Possible, recommended in shallow areas

Region / port

Jardines de la Reina, Cuba

Coordinates

20.817, -78.917

Conditions & Currents

Currents in Jardines de la Reina are generally mild to moderate, though conditions can vary by site and tidal influence. Some sites, like Corona de Cayo Cobo, frequently experience moderate currents, requiring divers to consider the current direction for optimal dive planning and to avoid swimming against it. Visibility is typically excellent, often reaching 25 meters or more, contributing to comfortable diving conditions. Entry and exit are typically managed from tenders launched from liveaboards, ensuring efficient access to dive sites across the extensive marine park. While thermoclines are not frequently reported as a major factor, local conditions can always introduce variations. Overall, the conditions are conducive for a range of diver experience levels, though good buoyancy control is always beneficial in protecting the pristine coral formations.

Marine life & sighting chances

Silky shark

common

Caribbean reef shark

common

Nassau grouper

common

Black grouper

common

Yellowfin grouper

common

Goliath grouper

common

Horse-eyed jack

common

Tarpon

common

Cubera snapper

common

Dog snapper

common

Nurse shark

occasional

Whale shark

July through November · occasional

Lemon shark

rare

Bull shark

rare

Dive profile & how the dive runs

A typical dive in Jardines de la Reina often starts from a smaller tender boat, which transports divers from the liveaboard to the chosen site. Entry is usually a giant stride, leading into a direct descent along a vibrant reef wall. For sites like Montana Rusa, the mini-wall begins around 16 meters and drops steeply to 27 meters, then transitions into a gentle slope reaching 38-42 meters. Divers typically explore the ledges and formations of the wall, looking for larger reef fish and sharks. The dive progresses along the reef, maintaining planned depth limits, often incorporating a series of coral formations that serve as navigation points. The turning point is usually dictated by air consumption or bottom time. The ascent involves a gradual return to shallower sections of the reef for the safety stop, often providing opportunities to observe schooling fish or surface-dwelling silky sharks during the three-minute pause before surfacing for pickup by the tender.

Underwater photography

Jardines de la Reina is a prime location for both wide-angle and macro underwater photography due to its diverse marine life and pristine reef structures. A wide-angle lens is essential for capturing the expansive coral walls, schools of jacks, and frequent encounters with Caribbean reef sharks, silky sharks, and large goliath groupers. The fearlessness of the groupers, in particular, offers unique close-up wide-angle opportunities. For macro enthusiasts, the reefs host a variety of smaller creatures, including nudibranchs, crustaceans, and shy hamlets, which can be captured effectively with a macro lens. Good buoyancy control is crucial for both macro and wide-angle shots to avoid disturbing delicate corals and to achieve clear compositions in the often excellent visibility. Utilizing strobes is recommended to bring out the vibrant colors of the corals and fish against the clear blue water.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Black Coral Wall

  Black Coral I and II are prominent dive sites within Cuba's renowned Jardines de la Reina marine reserve, an area celebrated for its…

• Cinco Pesos

  Cinco Pesos is a notable dive site in Cuba, renowned for its dramatic wall and diverse marine life.

• El Jaruco Wreck

  The El Jaruco wreck is a purposely scuttled ship located off the coast near Playa Larga, within the Bay of Pigs region of Cuba.

• Farallón

  Farallón is a notable dive site renowned for its distinctive rocky topography and abundant marine life.

• Meseta de los Meros

  Meseta de los Meros is a prominent dive site within Cuba's renowned Jardines de la Reina marine reserve, an area celebrated for its healthy…

• Pipin

  Pipin is a renowned dive site located within the highly protected Jardines de la Reina Marine Park, off Cuba's southern coast.

Getting there & logistics

Access to Jardines de la Reina is exclusively via liveaboard, typically departing from the port of Júcaro, Cuba. Travelers, including US citizens under specific cultural exchange programs, usually fly into Havana (HAV) then undertake a roughly 9-hour bus journey to Júcaro. From there, a liveaboard boat journey of about 4.5 hours transports divers to the marine park, where the vessel remains moored, serving as a base for daily dive excursions on smaller tenders. Trips are generally 8-day liveaboard packages, providing 5 days of diving with multiple dives daily. Marine park fees are often included in the liveaboard package, as the park is a highly protected area with strictly regulated tourism to preserve its pristine environment.

Safety & environment

Diving in Jardines de la Reina, while generally safe due to pristine conditions and professional liveaboard operations, requires adherence to standard diving safety protocols. Comprehensive dive insurance, including coverage for medical emergencies and evacuation, is highly recommended given the remote location of the marine park. The nearest recompression chamber and advanced medical facilities are located on the Cuban mainland, meaning that in the rare event of a diving accident, evacuation can be lengthy and complex. Divers should be mindful of the resident shark populations; while generally not aggressive, maintaining respectful distance and avoiding provocative actions is always prudent. All divers participate in the Blue Sanctuary program, which includes educational and conservation activities, emphasizing responsible interaction with the marine environment and strict no-touch policies.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Avalon FAQ

Liveaboards diving Avalon

These liveaboards may visit Avalon on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

Jardines Avalon Fleet

Cuba

20 guests35.05 m

$494/day